I didn’t travel with friends until senior year of college but summer after jr year and senior year (so almost 17 and almost 18) I joined volunteer groups (ages 16-adults) for travel. One was in the UK. My mom and sister flew to London with me and then did their own thing / toured while I traveled a few hours away and did the project. I had a huge crush on a guy a few years older and ended up making out for the first time so that was fun but also a bit overwhelming. I had to be pretty comfortable / firm with my limits. Because it was the UK and I was the youngest at almost 17 and the drinking age, there was also a lot of alcohol. The second was in the US and my closest friends were sisters in their mid 40s. It was very wholesome with hikes and ice cream outings in our off hours. But a divorced dad in his 40s invited me to “hang out” in his hotel room, told me the hot tub in his room could fit two people easily, and asked me if I’d like a massage. Gross. He knew I was 17. Luckily everyone else on the trip - including the women I befriended - knew he was a creep too and generally ran intervention. But I wouldn’t want one of my daughters traveling at that age without being prepared to handle the presence of alcohol, sexual advances (desired or not) or both.

Anonymous wrote:My 18 year old is in another state distance learning with other 18 year olds.

No biggie.

They are grocery shopping, cooking and getting their work done.

Wow!! OP here...I should’ve done this months ago! Saved angst in our household.

My 18 year old is in another state distance learning with other 18 year olds.

No biggie.

They are grocery shopping, cooking and getting their work done.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Natalie Holloway.

Bingo. You’re nuts, OP.

No, you're both nuts. Didn't that tragedy happen 16 years ago?

Yes, and teen traveling has been very different ever since. I'm sure this is not the case for all HS graduates, but all of the official senior trips I know of (including my DC's school and DC's friends' schools) require a parent/adult to go along for every 1-2 kids going on the trip. Many rentals at the beach won't allow groups under 21 to stay without someone 21+, and many parents don't want to take on the liability.

I can guarantee the majority are not official then and parents are signing off on the leases. You’re telling me there is an adult for every 1-2 children? OK.

When I say official, I don't mean school sponsored, I mean a group of parents putting together a trip for whoever wants to go from the senior class where blocks of rooms are booked. So, somewhere between official and unofficial. And I can tell you, because my child just went last year (his spring break was pre-lockdown), there was absolutely one adult for every 1-2 kids.

I think 16-18 yr olds are better behaved and more mature when they're on their own or with one friend rather than when it's a group of friends. Division of responsibility,is what I think it's called if I'm remembering my Psych 102 class.

Also, those teens going on a trip for a purpose other than partying is going to get you much better behavior than teens going on spring break.

Without Covid, as long as you feel they've got decent judgement and you/they can afford it, I'd support it. Nice to have a break after intense school demands. And it will help them see more of the world and grow up a bit.

With Covid, I'd require a lot of info re. their backup plans in case someone gets sick and has to quarantine or back out at the last minute. Will they be able to afford accommodation or continue trip without one+ member(s) of the party. Flights are still getting cancelled/boarders shutting or opening, testing demands are changing at the last minute. It's a headache even for very seasoned adult travelers.

Anonymous wrote:I know when I was a high school senior I did spring break and summer trips with my friends without parents. What say all of you these days? 18 years old. But still not all that mature particularly having stayed in during Covid.

Maturity comes with life experience. An 18yo can certainly travel with his friends. Now, whether doing it during a pandemic is a good idea is a different question.

I did an internship in Istanbul the summer I turned 18. Lived with a few girls, had a blast. It’s probably even safer now with cellphones everywhere to be honest.